Respiratory problems of sands carriers in the city of Lubumbashi/Rd Congo

Objective: To determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and illustrate the dangerousness of the sands dust in the Artisanal carriers in the city of Lubumbashi, Katanga province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Method: In total, 120 carriers of sand have been recruited in an exhaustive approach with 120 communal administrative officers of Lubumbashi city as control group. Respiratory symptoms were collected using a respiratory questionnaire. A multi-analysis varied with the test of logistic regression has been privileged to determine the association between the characteristics of the carriers and the respiratory symptoms. Results: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms reported in carriers of sands was greater than that of the control group for the symptoms such as: cough in the morning (52.5% against 6.7%), sputum in the morning (35% against 7.5%), shortness of breath after effort (18.3% against 5%), asthma (26.7% against 5%), chronic bronchitis (12.5% against 4.2%), rhinitis (62.5% against 21.7%), conjunctivitis (58.3% against 17.5%). After adjustment, on factors such as age and education, the profession carrier of sands was strongly associated with the risk of developing respiratory symptoms below: spit in the morning, shortness of breath after effort, asthma, chronic bronchitis with a p < 0.001. The Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) has been significantly reduced in the Carriers of sands (438.87 ± 109.02) compared to controls (480.14 ± 70.73) (p ˂ 0.05). Conclusion: The profession carriers of sand as practiced in Lubumbashi, without means of adequate protection

Respiratory health of artisanal miner of Lwisha in Katanga/DR Congo

Objective: To determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and make an awareness about the harmful effects of ores dust in the Artisanal miner in the city of Lubumbashi, Katanga province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Method: In total, 104 artisanal miners have been recruited in an exhaustive manner with 122 administrative officers in the town hall of Lubumbashi, responsible for collecting the taxes in the Stations of the bus as the control group. Respiratory symptoms were collected using a standardized questionnaire. To determine the association between the characteristics of the miners and respiratory symptoms reported, a multi-analysis combined with the test of logistic regression has been privileged. Results: The prevalence of the respiratory symptoms was markedly higher in the artisanal diggers, as compared with the group that controls: wheezing (37.5% vs. 7.4%), shortness breathing after effort (26.9% vs. 3.3%), cough (29.8% vs. 12.3%), asthma (24% vs. 1.6%), rhinitis (20.2% vs. 14.8%), conjunctivitis (16.3% vs. 9.8%), and eczema (34.6% vs. 2.5%). After adjusting for age and education level, digger as occupation was strongly associated with a higher risk of developing respiratory and skin problems (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study revealed that artisanal miner’s professions, as practiced in Lubumbashi, without any protection against dust, have a negative impact on the respiratory health. It proves to be very important to organize a teaching specialized in Occupational Medicine that can train some physicians with an established expertise having to answer if it is needed to be enormous in qualified staff in this area considered at respiratory risk

Drépanocytose chez l’enfant lushois de 6 à 59 mois en phase stationnaire: épidémiologie et clinique

Introduction: La drépanocytose constitue un véritable problème de santé publique avec une prévalence importante des formes majeures SS. L'objectif de notre étude est de déterminer le profil épidémiologique et clinique de la drépanocytose chez les homozygotes SS lushois âgés de 6 à 59 mois en phase  stationnaire.Méthodes: Il s'agit d'une étude descriptive des aspects épidémio-cliniques des enfants drépanocytaireshomozygotes SS lushois âgés de 6 à 59 mois en phase inter critique de la maladie. Les paramètres  étudiés sont : l'âge, le sexe, le niveau socioéconomique, l'origine ethnique, le passé médical (âge et type de la première crise et nombre de transfusion), l'appréciation de l'ictère, la classification de la  splénomégalie et la recherche du déficit moteur. Résultats: La moyenne d'âge est de 39,1±16,3 mois et le sexe féminin était prédominant (53,7%). Les 3/5 de nos patients sont d'un niveau de vie bas et l'ethnie Luba représente 68,3% de cas. L'âge moyen d'apparition de la première crise se situe à 10,1±10,0 mois. La majorité a présenté sa première crise avant d'atteindre l'âge de 12 mois et plus de la moitié a présenté un syndrome pieds-main ou dactylite comme première crise. Le nombre moyen de transfusion est de 2,1 transfusions. La rate était palpable dans 73,2% des cas et l'ictère était observé dans plus de 60% de cas.Conclusion: La drépanocytose  reste un véritable problème de santé publique dans notre pays. Faute de dépistage néonatal  systématique, le diagnostic est souvent posé en présence d'un signe d'appel. La meilleure connaissance des différents aspects cliniques de la maladie devraient permettre de réduire la mortalité infanto-juvénile.Key words: Drépanocytose, phase stationnaire, enfant, Lubumbash

Santé respiratoire des femmes vendeuses de farines de manioc, maïs et soja à Lubumbashi, République démocratique du Congo [Respiratory health of women selling cassava, corn and soybean flour in Lumbumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo]

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of respiratory complaints in Congolese women selling grain flours in Lubumbashi. The study enrolled 370 women, including 183 cassava, corn and soybean flour selling women (exposed group) and 187 tax collectors in municipal markets (control group) in Lubumbashi, DRC. A standardized respiratory health questionnaire was used, and a lung function test performed with the use of peak flow-meters. The prevalence of respiratory complaints was markedly higher in dust-exposed women than controls. In addition, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was significantly lower in the exposed group than in controls (342.46 ± 65.62 vs. 410.89 ± 70.91, respectively ; P<0.05). After adjustment for age and education level, women involved in cassava, corn and soybean flour selling business were more likely to develop respiratory complaints ad disorders as compared to controls

Silicose chez les mineurs souterrains congolais : à propos de 27 cas observés à Lubumbashi, République démocratique du Congo [Silicosis in underground miners in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo: 27 cases]

Silicosis is one of the most prevalent occupational lung diseases and a public health problem throughout the world. Underground miners of copper and cobalt are exposed to the dust of these minerals and thus to the risk of developing silicosis. The objective of this report was to describe a series of silicosis cases in miners exposed to mineral dusts at a mining company operating since the colonial era in Lubumbashi, Katanga province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This descriptive retrospective study reviewed records at the occupational safety and health department of the mining company mentioned above and included 2500 underground miners who worked there between 1970 and 1995; it collected and analyzed their medical records. Chest radiographs of silicosis patients were classified according to the ILO International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconiosis. All miners were males (mean age: 48.5 ±12.5), had low literacy levels, and used no protective device (i.e., mask) against dust. Their mean number of working years in the underground mines was 25.07±7.39 years. Of the 2500 miners, 1.08 % (27/2,500) had developed silicosis. The most common clinical manifestations were dyspnea and cough, and the most prevalent radiologic features large opacities (92.59 %), small opacities (96.27 %), and pleural thickening (25.92 %). The fatality rate was 100 %. This study revealed the absence of safety measures among Congolese underground miners from Lubumbashi, which might have contributed to the development of silicosis in some of them. It is thus necessary to implement occupational safety measures to reduce their risk of silicosis

Respiratory health of dust-exposed Congolese coltan miners

In Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), informal coltan mining has been expanding amidst increased insecurity due to armed conflicts. We investigated the impact of occupational dust-exposure on the respiratory health of Congolese coltan miners. In total, 441 Congolese workers participated in this study, including 199 informal coltan miners and 242 office workers (controls). Information on respiratory complaints was collected using two standardized questionnaires. Physical examination (vital signs, auscultation) and lung function test (Peak Flow meter) were performed. In addition, workplace airborne PM2.5 and volatile organic compounds (VOC) concentrations were measured. Higher airborne PM2.5 (range 180-210 µg/m <sup>3</sup> ) and VOC (range 1.4-2.3 µg/m <sup>3</sup> ) levels were detected at coltan mining work stations as compared with control sites (19-44 and 0.5-0.8 µg/m <sup>3</sup> , respectively). All respiratory complaints and disorders were more prevalent in informal coltan miners than in controls. Additionally, a markedly lower mean PEFR was observed in coltan miners than in controls (347.93 ± 6.88 vs. 493.23 ± 67.38 L/min, respectively). Moreover, positive associations between informal coltan mining and almost all respiratory complaints were observed, except wheezing at effort and night cough. On the other hand, an inverse association was observed between lung function (PEFR) and PM2.5 exposure, between PEFR and VOC exposure, and also between PEFR and current smoking. This study showed high prevalence of respiratory complaints in Congolese informal coltan miners, suggesting the necessity to implement efficient occupational safety measures and regulate this informal mining business

Severe malaria and death risk factors among children under 5 years at Jason Sendwe Hospital in Democratic Republic of Congo

Introduction: Malaria is still a major public health concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its morbidity and mortality challenge the actual strategies of the fight agains malaria. This study was aimed to describe the epidemiology, the clinical caracteristics and the risk factors of death associated to severe malaria in the pediatric population under 5 years at Sendwe Hospital of Lubumbashi. Methods: This analytical retrospective study was conducted in Lubumbashi, in the province of Haut-Katanga. All patients under 5 years hospitalized for severe malaria were registered from January 2014 to December 2016. Results: Among the 3,092 patients hospitalised during our study period, 452 (14.6%) were admitted for severe malaria. The average age was 27.04 months, the male sex was the most affected (53.54% with the sex-ratio 1.15). The most frequent forms of gravity noticed were cerebral malaria (48.23%) and severe anemia (46.90%). Death was noted in the evolution in 28.32%. Repeated convulsion (OR = 2.27; 95% CI: 1.47-3.48), coma (OR = 3.55; 95% CI: 2.19-5.74) and severe acute malnutrition (OR = 3.32; 95% CI: 1.56-7.06) were asscociated with a high risk of death. Conclusion: This research shows that severe malaria is still an important cause of morbidity and mortality among young children in Lubumbashi. Neurologic and anemic forms are the most frequent. The predictive signs of death are: repeated convulsions, coma and severe acute malnutrition